Paddle wheel



May 11, 1937. H. F. sHAw ET AL 2,079,823

PADDLE WI'EEEL Filed Dec. 51, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l lmentors:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. F. SHAW ET AL PADDLE WHEEL Filed Dec. 31, 1936 May 11, 1937.

SHAH V 402/ Patents ay H, 193? attests rpm 1 m Frederick Shaw and Walter G. swam.

McKeesport, Pa.

Application December 31, 1936, Serial No. 118,648

7 Clai.

This invention relates particularly to paddlewheels adapted to be used with boats, mills or other wheel-driven apparatus.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- 5 vide a strong, sturdy paddle-wheel which requires a minimum of maintenance work thereon.

Another object is to provide a paddle-wheel which has a relatively long life and which, when necessary, can easily be repaired.

' The above and further objects will be made apparent by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation, on line I--I of Figure 2, of one embodiment of our 15 novel paddle-wheel;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of a wheel unit;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on line V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation on 25 line VI-VI of Figure 3; and,

Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional elevationon line VII-VII of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates generally a paddle- 30 wheel which includes a shaft 4. Crank-arms 6 are secured to the shaft 4 adjacent the ends thereof. A plurality of hubs 8 provided with ribs 9 are carried by the shaft 4 and preferably are equally spaced from each other.

35 cular plate 10 is welded to one side of each of the ribs 9 and extends radially from the hub 8 with which it is associated.

A plurality of substantially U-shaped metal spokes l2 are preferably welded, by a water- 40 tight weld, to the plates l and to the upper surface of each of the ribs 9. The spokes l2 have integral sides I3 and a flat web l4, and extend radially from the hubs 8. The spokes l2 are positioned to iorm equal angles with each other and the ends thereof secured to the ribs 9 are concavely shaped to correspond to the contour of J the ribs 9. Small portions of the ends of the webs [4 are cut away in order that the plates ID. the ribs 9, and the spokes 12 may be unified with one weld. The ends of the spokes 42 not secured to the ribs 9 gradually increase in width. The

spokes l2 are similarly arranged oneach of the units formed by the hubs 8 and the plates It) so that the corresponding spokes on the units lie in a plane when the paddle-wheel 2 is assembled. A metal plate it, having a hole' I! therein, is secured between'the flanges l3 of each of the spokes l2 adjacent the portion thereof which is of increased width. The comers of the plates I6 60 are preferably cut away as at IE to permit any A flat cirwater trapped in the spokes 12 to drain therefrom.

To reenforce the spokes I2 and distribute an forces applied thereto means, such as metal bars l8, are secured between theends of adjacent Spokes on the units formed by the spokes I2, the plates I0 and the hubs 8.

Flat arcuate metal sections 20 may be welded or otherwise secured to the web l4 of the spokes l2 and the outer edges of the integral sides 13. The metal sections 20 are linked together to form circular members which lie adjacent the ends of the spokes l2. The bars l8, are intermediate the, sides of the metal sections 20 and may be welded thereto. At least one corner at each end of the bars 18 should be cut away as at l9 (Figure 4) to provide a drain for water caught between the metal sections 20 and the bars l8.

The paddle-wheel 2 is constructed and arranged to have its maximum strength within the circumference of the rings formed by ,the metal sections 20. The units formed by one of the hubs 8, one of the plates Ill, spokes l2, bars l3 and metal sections 20 are composed entirely of metal parts which are secured together so as to develop the maximum strength thereof.

To complete the arms of the paddle-wheel 2, the spokes l2 are extended beyond the units bounded by the metal sections 20 by means of substantially U-shaped spoke inserts 22 which are adapted to be received in the ends of the spokes l2. The ends of the spoke inserts 22 received in the spokes B2 are tapered inwardly to gradually decrease the width thereof. The spoke inserts 22 are provided with means, such as bolts 23, which are carried by and extend from the smaller ends of the spoke inserts 22, and positioned to extend through the holes H in the plate 16 when the spoke inserts 22 are in the spokes l2. Then, by securing nuts to the portions of the bolts 23 extending through the plates IS, the spoke inserts 22 can be drawn into tight engagement with the spokes l2. The spoke inserts 22 may also be secured to the spokes l2 by bolts 25 after the bolts 23 have drawn the two together.

The spoke inserts 22 are provided for mounting the paddle or bucket portion of the paddlewheel 2. This paddle portion is made from a plurality of heavy wooden planks 24, although metal sheets or plates can be used, if desired. The/ 0 planks 24 extend the length of the paddle-wheel 2 and several of them are secured to corresponding spoke inserts 22 on each of the annular units of the paddle-wheel 2 by any suitable means, such as bolts or the like. Channels 26 or similar means should be placed under the bolts securing the planks 24 to the spoke inserts 22 in order to distribute the compressive force exerted by the bolts over the face of the planks. The spoke inserts 22 ordinarily should be provided with braces 28 that extend between adjacent spoke inserts. T'ne braces 28 may be made from wood and are received in brackets 30 on corresponding sides of each of the spoke inserts 22. The other ends of the braces 28 are secured to the planks 24 on the adjacent spoke insert 22 by means of hooked bolts 32 which engage with recesses formed in the planks 24 or apertures in the spoke inserts 22.

The planks 24 and the spoke inserts 22 are sturdily constructed but they do not possess the strength of the annular units within the metal sections 20. Therefore, when the paddle-wheel 2 is subjected to an excessive force which may be produced by striking an obstacle such as a block of ice, the parts within the metal sections 20 will not be harmed. If the paddle-wheel is damaged in any manner whatsoever, the damage will ordinarily occur to the planks 24 or the spoke inserts 22. The damage preferably occurs to these parts of the paddle-wheel 2 as they are easily replaced and the spoke inserts 22 may even be straightened and used again. The metallic construction of the paddle-wheel 2 is also adapted to withstand the action of the elements and the constant wettings received by the paddlewheel 2.

The spokes l2 may be temporarily positioned by being bolted to the plates 10. After welding the spokes I2 to the plates Hi the bolts securing them together may be removed, if desired. Ordinarily the paddle-Wheel 2 should be balanced, any suitable method may be used to secure this result.

While we have shown and described one form of our invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A paddle-wheel comprising a shaft, a plurality of hubs carried by said shaft, a radially extending plate associated with each of said hubs, a plurality of radially extending metal spokes Welded to each of the units formed by said hubs and plates, corresponding spokes on said units being. constructed and arranged to lie in a plane, means associated with and extending between the ends of said spokes for distributing a force exerted on one of said spokes, spoke inserts detachably secured to said spokes adjacent the ends thereof, and material adapted to form paddles extending between and carried by corresponding spoke inserts.

2. A paddle-wheel including a shaft, a plurality of spaced hubs carried by said shaft, a radially extending plate associated with each of said hubs, a plurality of equally spaced metal spokes secured to each of the units formed by said hubs and plates and extending radially therefrom, corresponding spokes on said units being constructed and arranged to lie in'a plane, reenforcing means associated with the ends of said spokes for distributing a force exerted on one of F said spokes to adjacent spokes on said unit, spoke inserts received in the ends of and extending radially from said spokes, means adapted to detachably secure said spoke inserts in said spokes, and paddle-forming means secured to and extending between corresponding spoke inserts on each of said hubs.

3. A paddle-wheel including a shaft, at least one crank-arm secured to said shaft, a plurality of spaced hubs carried by said shaft, a flat radially extending plate secured to each of said hubs, a plurality of equally spaced metal spokes secured to each of the units formed by said hubs and plates and extending radially therefrom, said spokes being substantially U-shaped in cross-section and increasing in width at their outer ends, corresponding spokes on said units being constructed and arranged to lie in a plane, flat arcuate metal sections carried by both the bottom surface and the upper edges of said spokes, said metal sections being united to form rings adjacent the ends of said spokes, substantially U-shaped spoke inserts received in the ends of and extending radially from said spokes, means adapted to detachably secure said spoke inserts in said spokes, and planks secured to and extending between corresponding spoke inserts on each of said hubs.

4. A paddle-wheel including a shaft, at least one crank-arm secured to said shaft, a plurality of equally spaced hubs carried by said shaft, a fiat circular radially extending plate secured to each of said hubs, a plurality of equally spaced metal spokes secured to each of the units formed by said hubs and plates and extending radially therefrom, said spokes being substantially U-shaped in cross-section and increasing in width at their outer ends, corresponding spokes on said units being constructed and arranged to lie in a plane, metal bars secured between the ends of adjacent spokes on said units, fiat arcuate metal sections carried by both the bottom surface and the upper edges of said spokes, said metal sections being united to form rings adjacent the ends of said, spokes, substantially U-shaped spoke inserts received in the ends of and extending radially from said spokes, means adapted to detachably secure said spoke inserts in said spokes, braces positioned between adjacent spoke inserts, and planks secured to and extending between corresponding spoke inserts on each of said hubs.

5. A wheel comprising a shaft, a plurality of hubs carried by said shaft, a radially extending plate associated with each of said hubs, a plurality of metal spokes welded to each of the units formed by said hubs and plates, corresponding spokes on said units being constructed and arranged to lie in a plane, and means associated with and extending between the ends of said spokes for distributing a force exerted on one of said spokes.

6. An arm for a paddle-wheel including a metal spoke having an end gradually increasing in width, a spoke insert having a tapered end adapted to be received in the end of said spoke, and means carried by said spoke insert and detachably engaging with said spoke for adjustably and removably securing said spoke insert in said spoke.

7. An arm for a paddle-wheel including a substantially U-shaped metal spoke having an end gradually increasing in width, a metal plate having a hole therein secured across said metal spoke intermediate the ends thereof, a substantially U-shaped spoke insert having a tapered end adapted to be received in the end of said spoke, and means carried by said spoke insert and engaging with said plate for adjustably and rel movably securing said spoke insert in said spoke.

HARRY FREDERICK SHAW. WALTER G. SWARTZ. 

